Wrench.



F. H. DRAPER.

WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.16, 1913.

1,087,933. Patented Feb. 24, 191 1 814 uzwbor FRANK H. DRAPER, OF OSWEGO, NEW YORK.

WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 24, 1914.

Application filed January 16, 1913. Serial No. 742,462.

In the pipe wrench form, illustrated by Figs. 1 to 3, the head 3 consists of a strong comparatively heavy block of metal at its portion in rear of the wrench bar forming a longitudinal housing 8, having a passage extendlng thcrcthrough approximately parallel with and spaced from the wrench bar This invention relates to certain improvements in wrenches; and the objects and nature of the invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art in the light of the following explanation of the accompanying drawings illustrating What I now believe to be the preferred embodiment from among other formations, constructions and arrangements within the spirit and scope of my invention.

An objectof the invention is to provide a simple, durable and effective quick adjustable wrench whereby the wrench can be easily adjusted to the work, or to receive the work, by the manipulation of the thumb or fingers of the hand holding the wrench.

A further object of the invention is to provide certain improvements in details of construction and in arrangements and construction of parts whereby a highly eflicient quick adjustable wrench will be produced capable of being adjusted by one hand, to wit; by the hand grasping the wrench bar and holding the wrench.

The intention consists in certain novel features in construction and in combinations and arrangements as more fully and particularly set forth hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:Figure 1, shows a wrench, partially in section, constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2, is a front edge elevation of said wrench. Fig. 3, is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 4, is a side elevation showing a nut or monkey wrench embodying my invention.

In the drawings I show a wrench comprising a straight wrench bar or handle 1, at its outer end formed with the fixed jaw 2, usually although not necessarily rigid therewith; a head 3, slidable longitudinally on said bar and carrying the opposing or adjustable aw 4; a clutch loop 5, slidable longitudinally on said bar with said head and vieldingly held in normal clutching or adjustable-jaw-locking position by a spring 6; and pull links 7, forming a direct constant operative connection between said clutch loop and said head.

to loosely receive the shank 9, of the adjustable jaw 4. The jaw 4, is preferably rigid with the shank 9. and projects laterally from the outer end thereof. The shank is longitudinally arranged in said housing and is coupled thereto and secured therein by the transverse pivot pin 10, located near the outer end of the housing so that the shank is allowed a limited swinging movement in the housing toward and from the wrench bar, for the purposes well understood by those skilled in the art. The shank is yieldingly held in normal position with respect to said housing by the opposing plate springs 11 at their upper ends secured to the shank at points below the pivot. These springs diverge downwardly and at their free ends bear against the opposite edge walls of the housing passage. However, I do notwish to limit all features of my invention to a pivotally mounted adjustable jaw nor to the spring arrangement described.

At its inner end, the slide or head 3, is formed with a forward projection or nose 1'2, integral. therewith and having a vertical passage 13 therethrough. The passage 13, receives the wrench bar comparatively snugly to permit free sliding movement of the head on said bar (when the clutch loop is released) and yet so as to permit slight or limited rocking movement of said head on said bar.

The clutch loop 5, preferably consists of a strong durable elongated block of metal arranged inwardly of the head or slide 3, and spaced therefrom. At a point intermediate its ends this loop is formed with a vertical clutch opening 14, through which the wrench bar extends and this opening is of such dimensions and so formed that the clutch loop can slide freely on and longitudinally of the wrench bar, when said loop is held in a certain position with respect to said bar, for instance, when said loop is held in a position directly transversely of or at right angles to the length of the bar, but so that said loop will tightly and rigidly grip the bar against relative longitudinal movement of the bar or loop, when the loop is tilted from unlocked or released position, for instance, when the loop is tilted or inclined with its rear end elevated and its front end depressed as in Fig. 1.

The elongated rear end of the clutch loop 5 is pivotally connected to the front end of j the nose 12 of the slide 3, by the pair of strong durable inclined side links 7, at their upper front ends pivotally secured to said nose 12 by strong transverse pivot pin 15 (or other suitable means) and at their lower rear ends pivotally secured to the rear extremity of the clutch loop by the strong transverse pivot pin 16 (or other suitable means).

The compressed expansive coiled spring 6, j is arranged in front of the wrench bar and 5 between the inner edge of the front extremi ity of the nose 12, and the outer edge of the 1 front extremity of the clutch loop to conf stantly tend to hold the clutch loop in normal inclined locked position. This spring is preferably guided and confined by a headed slide or pin 17. confined and freely slidable i in a hole or socket 18, in the front extremity 1 of the clutch loop. The spring surrounds the pin and is compressed between the head thereof and the top edge of the loop and yieldingly holds the rounded head of said pin in a depression (see Fig. 1) in the bottom edge of the nose 12. i

In Fig. 4, I show my invention embodied i in a nut or monkey wrench wherein the, wrench bar is provided with fixed jaw 2', and the sliding jaw 4, has a depending extension or end 3, at the rear edge of. the 5 wrench bar and formed with a transverse vertically elongated slot. The clutch loop or block 5 has a passage or opening to rel ceive the wrench bar and form edges to grip j the same, as described hereinafter. The front end of the block 5, is pivotally joined 1 by transverse pin 16, to the upper front ends of the two pull links 7, which at their lower rear ends are pivoted to the lower extremity of the depending jaw extension 3, j by transverse pin 15. The rear free end a, of the clutch block, is reduced in thickness and projects rearwardly through the vertical slot in the jaw extension and projects beyond the rear edge thereof to be engaged by the thumb or finger of the operator in l pressing the clutch block downwardly (with reference to the vertical position in which the wrench is shown in Fig. 4) to release the same from locking engagement with the wrench bar. This free end of the clutch block is vertically movable in said slot, and 1 the block is yieldingly held in normal inclined locking position by spring 6, located on the shank of the pin 17 and compressed 1 between the under side of block end a, and the head of the pin, and thereby pressing the head of the pin against the end wall of 3 said slot, as will be readily understood from I the explanation of the form of my invention illustrated by Fig. 1. The pin 17, ex-

tends loosely through a perforation in said free end of the clutch block. The spring and pin are located in the slot in the adjustable jaw extension 3, as indicated by dotted lines. The operation of this form of my invention will be readily understood from the description of the pipe wrench construction.

lVhen the operator desires to open the wrench to receive the work, it is merely necessary for him to press outwardly on the front end of the clutch loop (at the point (1,) with the hand grasping the wrench bar as said hand slides the clutch loop and slide 3 outwardly on the wrench bar. To close the wrench onto and adjust the same to the work, it is merely necessary for the operator to press inwardly on the front end of the nose 12, of the slide (at point 1)) with the hand grasping the wrench as said hand forces the slide inwardly on the wrench bar. The thumb of the hand that is manipulat ing the wrench can readily apply the necessary pressure at the point a, or at the point 7), to hold the clutch loop in unlocked posi tion while said hand moves the slide 3, outwardly or inwardly on the wrench bar. The instant pressure on points a or b, is relieved, the spring 6, restores the clutch loop to locking position. When the wrench is in action, outward pull on the adjustable jaw exerts outward pull on the slide 3, and this pull is transmitted to the rear end of the clutch loop through the links 7, thereby increasing the locking grip of said loop on the bar while the links hold the slide against outward movement on the bar, and also tend to cause the slide to assume an inclined bargripping position on said bar.

When inward pressure is exerted on the slide 3, at the point I), said slide is depressed against the tension of the spring and links 7 depress the rear end of the clutch loop and bring said loop to unlocked position so that the loop slides freely on the wrench bar with the slide or head 3. When outward pressure is applied at the point a, the clutch loop is rocked to unlocked position and is free to move outwardly on the bar with the slide 3, and will propel the slide through the medium of the links and the spring pressed pin.

Wrenches embodying this invention are exceedingly easy and convenient in operation and can be most quickly adjusted and yet can be economically manufactured of strong durable construction and placed on the market at a reasonable price.

It is evident that various modifications, variations and changes might be resorted to in the forms, constructions, and arrangements embodied in the present mechanical expression or embodiment of my invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the exact disclosure hereof.

Desiring to protect my invention in the broadest manner legally possible, what I claim is 1. A wrench having fixed and adjustable jaws and a wrench bar, a slide on said bar for adjusting said adjustable jaw, an elongated clutch loop for locking said slide against opening movement, said loop receiving said bar and slidable thereon with said slide, said loop at one end carrying a freely reciprocatory headed pin, a coiled expansion spring on said pin and compressed between the loop and the pin head and holding said head against the slide and thereby yieldingly holding said loop in locked position, and a link at its one end pivot-ally joined to one end of said loop and at its other end pivotally joined to the corresponding opposite portion of said slide.

2. A quick-adjustable wrench comprising a wrench bar, a movable jaw adjustable longitudinally thereof, and locking and adjusting means for said jaw consisting essentially of a clutch loop for locking said jaw to said bar and for propelling said jaw on the opening adjustment thereof, said loop receiving said bar and slidable longitudinally thereof when propelled by said jaw on its closing adjustment. and when propelling said jaw on the opening adjustment thereof, said loop being rockable on said bar to and from locking and adjustable positions, a spring movable with and constantly bearing on said loop to yieldingly maintain the same rocked into locking position, and a direct pull link connection between the jaw and loop through which the loop normally locks the jaw against opening adjustment and through which the loop is moved when the jaw is forced on closing adjustment, said loop having a finger-engaging end portion adapted to be engaged by the hand grasping the wrench bar to rock the loop against the tension of the spring to unlocked position and to move the loop and jaw on opening adustment.

3. A quick-adjustable wrench comprising a wrench bar, a movable jaw slide adjustable longitudinally thereof, and locking and ad justing means for said slide consisting essentially of a clutch loop for locking said slide to said bar, said loop receiving said bar and slidable longitudinally thereof, said loop being rockable on said bar to and from looking and adjustable positions, a spring movable with and constantly bearing on said loop to yieldingly maintain the same rocked into locking position, and a pair of inclined opposite-side pull links at corresponding ends directly secured to one end of said loop and at their opposite ends coupled to said slide to normally look the jaw against opening adjustment, said loop having an accessible exposed end portion to be engaged by the finger to rock the loop-on its con nection with said links and against the tension of said spring to adjustable position.

4. In a wrench embodying an adjustable jaw, the combination of a wrench bar, a slide provided with the adjustable jaw and slidable on said bar on jaw opening and closing adjustments, a clutch loop receiving said bar and rockable thereon to and from looking and adjustable positions, a spring interposed between the slide and loop and yieldingly and normally holding the loop in locked position, and a pull link connection operatively confining said loop to said slide to normally lock the same against jaw opening adjustment.

5. In a wrench embodying an adjustable jaw, the combination of a wrench bar, a slide carrying the adjustable jaw and slid able on said bar on jaw opening and jaw closing adjustments, a clutch loop receiving said bar and rockable thereon to and from locking and adjustable positions, an expansion spring arranged between adjacent ends of the slide and loop and constantly acting on the loop to hold the same in looking position, said end of the loop being accessible to the finger of the operator to rock and hold the loop to adjustable position against the tension of said spring and to propel the loop on the bar, and a pull link operatively connecting said loop to the slide to normally lock the slide against jaw opening adjustment and to freely move the slide on jaw opening adjustment when said loop is held in adjustable position.

6. In a wrench embodying an adjustable jaw, the combination of a Wrench bar, a slide carrying the adjustable jaw and slidable on said bar on jaw opening and jaw closing adjustments, a clutch loop receiving said bar and rockable thereon to and from locking and adjustable positions, an expansion spring arranged bet-ween adjacent ends of the slide and loop and constantly acting on the loop to hold the same in looking po sition, said end of the loop being accessible to the finger of the operator to rock and hold the loop to adjustable position against the tension of said spring and to propel the loop on the bar, and a pivotal pull link connection from the opposite end of the loop to the corresponding opposite end of said slide.

7. In a wrench, in combination, a wrench bar provided with a rigid jaw, a slide longitudinally movable on the bar and provided with and carrying a movable jaw, a clutch loop receiving and slidable on the bar and rockable thereon to and from locking p0sition, a spring device interposed between the slide and loop and constantly bearing on the front end of the loop to maintain the loop in locking position, and a pair of opposite side inclined pull links at their front ends di- I extended end of the loop and at their 0pp0- site ends directly coupled to th''borresponding opposite end of the slide, a spring device 8. In a wrench, in combination, a Wrench interposed between the loop and slide and bar having a rigid jaw at its outer end, a acting on the end of the loop opposite said slide longitudinally movable on said bar and 1 extended end to yieldingly maintain the loop in looking position.

provided with a aw loosely coupled thereto and carried thereby and extending to a point In testimony whereof I aflix my signature outwardly beyond said rigid jaw, a clutch I in presence of two witnesses.

loop slidable on said bar and rockable to 5 FRANK H. DRAPER. and from looking position and having an extended end, opposite-side inclined links at 5 corresponding ends directly pivoted to said rectly pivoted to the front end of said slide and at their rear ends directly pivoted to the rear end of said loop.

Vitnesses J OHN J. WHITE, VVILLIs W'ILKE, Jr.

Coplen of thin patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C." 

